about us

In an expression of the principle of impermanence, in 1998 Rev. Enyu Ito began offering an opportunity for students to attend and practice authentic Rinzai Zen under his guidance. Over the 20 years since, many students have experienced a deepening of Zen practice in their daily lives. In 2016 with increasing age, he reduced the frequency of his participation and teaching, and so now comes infrequently, and then, only on warmer days.

With this change, Rev. Ann Kugyo Rice, with the assistance of Kaz Kihara and Koyo He, has continued to offer zazen and instruction, although not as a Rinzai teacher. Sunday sit times always offer zazen (sitting meditation), with various other practices such as talks, kinhin (walking meditation), student sharings, and simple rituals. The sangha (supporting members) is made up of individuals who attend fairly regularly, as well as those who attend occasionally, and those who come on a one-time basis. All are welcome. It is our hope that the experience of zazen will help the individual clarify the Path that each must determine as his/her own, and thus help him/her become aware of his/her way of being in our oftentimes challenging world.

Our zazen class is offered in the Upper House which sits on the slope of the Moon Viewing Hill at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, CA. The house offers a place of quiet retreat in the garden.